Post-Free Agency Fantasy Winners & Losers (NFL & College)

NFL free agency and college football’s transfer portal don’t just shuffle rosters—they reshape the entire fantasy football landscape. Whether you play in Dynasty, Redraft, or Campus to Canton leagues, knowing which players gained value and which ones lost ground is key to building a championship roster. In this post-free agency breakdown, we spotlight 2025’s biggest fantasy winners and losers across both the NFL and college football, with actionable calls to draft, fade, or stash.

NFL Winners

Justin Fields (QB, New York Jets)
Fields lands as the Jets’ starting QB after Pittsburgh moved on from Russell Wilson, pairing his elite rushing upside (QB7 in fantasy PPG in 2024) with a system led by OC Tanner Engstrand, who brings a Lions-inspired approach. Fields’ connection with Garrett Wilson (Ohio State roots) and a run-heavy scheme designed to limit his passing risks make him a priority target in Superflex leagues as a high-floor QB2 with top-12 upside.

Evan Engram (TE, Denver Broncos)
Engram replaces Greg Dulcich as Denver’s primary move tight end, slotting into Sean Payton’s scheme that demands alignment versatility. With 73.9% of his 2024 snaps in the slot/wide and minimal competition outside of Courtland Sutton, Engram’s versatility and volume potential make him a top-5 TE target with weekly TE1 stability.

Brock Bowers (TE, Las Vegas Raiders)
Bowers’ outlook skyrockets with Geno Smith under center, whose 81.4 deep-middle yards per game in 2024 perfectly complement Bowers’ route tree. Smith’s accuracy (70.4% completion rate) and Chip Kelly’s quick-strike system set Bowers up to dominate red-zone looks in a thin WR corps, positioning him as a must-draft TE1 contender.

Bears Offensive Ecosystem (Caleb Williams, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze)
Chicago’s overhauled O-line (Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, Drew Dalman) stabilizes Caleb Williams’ pocket, elevating Moore’s ceiling as a WR2 with WR1 spikes and Odunze’s TD-dependent streamer appeal. With Keenan Allen gone, Moore is a safe mid-round WR2, while Odunze warrants a late-round stash for upside.

Najee Harris (RB, Los Angeles Chargers)
Harris transitions to a gap-heavy scheme (7th in gap run rate in 2024) that suits his bruising style better than Pittsburgh’s zone system. While draft risk looms, Harris is the projected RB2 workhorse for now, making him a volume-based RB2 target with a contingency plan post-draft.

NFL Losers

DK Metcalf (WR, Pittsburgh Steelers)
Metcalf’s trade to Pittsburgh’s run-first offense (27th in pass attempts in 2024) and QB uncertainty (Aaron Rodgers unsigned) caps his target ceiling. Even as the WR1, his volatile role in Arthur Smith’s run-heavy system limits upside, making him a risky WR3 to avoid outside of best-ball formats.

George Pickens (WR, Pittsburgh Steelers)
Demoted to WR2 behind Metcalf, Pickens faces reduced volume and ongoing trade rumors. His boom-bust profile clashes with a low-volume passing attack, rendering him a low-priority stash only if traded to a pass-friendly scheme.

Colts’ Pass-Catchers (Josh Downs, Alec Pierce)
The Daniel Jones-Anthony Richardson QB battle injects uncertainty into Indy’s offense. Jones’ accuracy issues (62.1% career completion) and Richardson’s rawness leave Downs’ slot role as the only semi-stable option, but all Colts WRs are fade candidates until clarity emerges.

Rico Dowdle (RB, Carolina Panthers)
Dowdle’s backup role behind Chuba Hubbard relegates him to handcuff status despite his 1,079-yard 2024 campaign. Without standalone value, he’s only relevant if Hubbard misses time, making him a late-round handcuff stash at best.

Jalen McMillan (WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Relegated to WR3 after Chris Godwin’s return, McMillan’s role shrinks to situational deep threats in a run-first system. His early hype as a top-30 WR vanishes, so avoid him in redraft unless injuries strike ahead of him.

CFB Winners

Makhi Hughes (Oregon Ducks)

Makhi Hughes transferred from Tulane to replace NFL-bound Jordan James. He led all returning RBs in yards after contact (949) and TDs (15) in 2024. Oregon’s gap-heavy scheme and the QB transition to Dante Moore ensure bell-cow volume. Draft him as a top-10 RB with RB1 upside in a high-scoring offense.

Ahmad Hardy (Missouri Tigers)

Ahmad Hardy upgraded from Louisiana-Monroe to fill Kewan Lacy’s role after his transfer to Ole Miss. Hardy forced 91 missed tackles (3rd in FBS) and thrives in Mizzou’s zone scheme. Expect 20+ touches per game as the Tigers’ offensive centerpiece. Target him as a late-round RB2 with weekly top-15 potential.

Desmond Reid (Pittsburgh Panthers)

Desmond Reid jumped from FCS Western Carolina to Pitt, reuniting with OC Kade Bell. Reid’s 1,704 all-purpose yards (966 rushing, 579 receiving) in 2024 prove his dual-threat value. Pitt’s RPO-heavy system maximizes his explosiveness. Draft him as a PPR gem and a top-15 RB in points-per-reception formats.

Isaac Brown (Louisville Cardinals)

Isaac Brown returns after leading Power 5 RBs in yards per carry (7.11) as a freshman. Louisville’s veteran O-line and play-action game create lanes for Brown’s elite burst, as evidenced by his 33 runs of 12+ yards in 2024. Draft him as a high-ceiling RB2, ideal for best-ball leagues.

Jamal Haynes (Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets)

Jamal Haynes anchors a revamped offense with top-30 recruiting class support. His 856 pre-contact yards, the most among Power 5 RBs, pair well with QB Haynes King’s dual-threat gravity. Expect 1,200+ scrimmage yards. Stash him as a mid-round RB3 with RB2 upside.

CFB Losers

CJ Baxter (Texas Longhorns)

CJ Baxter returns from a knee injury but cedes touches to Quintrevion Wisner, who totaled 1,064 yards in 2024. Baxter’s workload uncertainty in a split backfield caps his ceiling. Fade him in drafts but monitor camp reports for role clarity.

Le’Veon Moss (Texas A&M Aggies)

Le’Veon Moss lost key O-line support after recruiting misses on top tackles. He faces stacked boxes in a stagnant offense, and his 3.8 YPC in 2024 signals regression risk. Avoid him outside of deep leagues and prioritize handcuffs instead.

Jadarian Price (Notre Dame Fighting Irish)

Jadarian Price is overshadowed by Jeremiyah Love’s breakout 1,125-yard, 17-TD season. Price’s role shrinks to change-of-pace duties behind Love. Fade him entirely unless Love misses time.

Roman Hemby (Indiana Hoosiers)

Roman Hemby transferred from Maryland to a run-heavy but inefficient offense. Indiana ranked 118th in rushing YPG (98.3) in 2024, and Hemby’s volume alone won’t offset poor efficiency. Stash him only in 14+ team leagues.

Jahiem White (West Virginia Mountaineers)

Jahiem White lost his lead role to QB Nicco Marchiol’s increased rushing usage. White’s 2024 production of 1,064 yards is likely to dip as WVU leans into Marchiol’s legs. Draft him as a low-end flex but temper expectations.

Actionable Recap

Draft: Makhi Hughes (RB1), Ahmad Hardy (RB2), Desmond Reid (PPR RB2).

Stash: Jamal Haynes (RB3), Isaac Brown (best-ball stash).

Fade: CJ Baxter, Le’Veon Moss, Jadarian Price.

Watch: Texas’ RB split, Indiana’s offensive adjustments.

As rosters settle, expect rankings to shift based on camp reports, depth chart battles, and preseason performance. Stay ahead by tracking updates and adjusting your draft strategy accordingly. Keep tabs on our latest rankings to maximize your fantasy edge.